Jim Newman Is Reappointed as Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce Legal Counsel and Elected to the Chamber’s Board of Directors

Established in 1836, the Chamber serves as a regional economic development agency, coordinating with city, county and private partners. The Chamber is composed of more than 2,200 businesses representing more than 108,000 professionals who have joined together to maximize their business opportunities. Membership is open to all businesses in the Mobile area, or businesses with an interest in doing business in this area.

Chambers USA Recognizes Helmsing Leach and Four of Its Lawyers

In its 2013 edition, Chambers USA, a reference guide to the legal profession, recognizes Helmsing Leach as a leading law firm in commercial litigation and, in addition, recognizes four of the firms lawyers as leaders in specialty areas of practice:  Joe Babington (commercial litigation), Jeff Hartley (bankruptcy/restructuring), John Leach (commercial litigation) and Warren Herlong (eminent domain).  Chambers USA uses in-depth, client-focused research to rank the leading US firms and lawyers in a wide range of practice areas.  The guide is read by major companies and organizations throughout the United States and the world.  It is also widely used by law firms for referral purposes.

Patrick Finnegan Begins Term As President Of Restore Mobile

This month marks the beginning of Patrick Finnegan’s two-year term as President of Restore Mobile, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving and augmenting Mobile’s rich architectural heritage and continuing the revitalization of the city’s historic core through the acquisition, rehabilitation and resale of run-down properties of architectural or historic significance.  Mr. Finnegan is a long-time member of the Board of Restore Mobile and its predecessor organization, and just completed a two-year term as its Vice President.

Helmsing Leach Lawyers & Staff Make Annual Donation To United Way

For many years, Helmsing Leach has encouraged its attorneys and staff members to make an annual contribution to United Way, a network of community-based groups that raise billions of dollars every year to support programs benefitting local communities, including Mobile and its surrounding areas.  This year the firm donated $11,500 to the organization.

Firm Lawyers & Staff Make Annual Christmas Charity Donation

Helmsing Leach continued its longtime Christmas tradition of raising money from its lawyers and staff to donate to a local family in need and to area charities.  This year, the firm raised $1,427 to purchase clothing and other items on the Christmas wish list of one of the Salvation Army’s “neediest families,” and to make contributions to the Bay Area Food Bank and Waterfront Rescue Mission.  Legal assistant Michelle Wells once again took the lead in organizing this worthy project.

Casey Pipes To Participate In ABA Teleconference Concerning The Impact of Natural Disasters On Property Rights

Casey Pipes will join in a round table discussion titled “Thinking Out Loud: Property Rights After Natural Disasters,” sponsored by the Condemnation, Zoning and Land Use Committee of the American Bar Association’s Section on Litigation.  The free call-in teleconference will be held on Friday, January 11, 2013, starting at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time.  Mark Murakami of the Damon Key law firm in Honolulu, Hawaii will moderate.  Joining Casey on the panel will be Anthony Della Pelle and Tom Olson of the McKirdy & Riskin law firm in New Jersey.  If you would like to register, or get more information, please click here

Firm Wins Defense Verdict In Medical Malpractice Case

Alan Alexander and Annie Dike recently obtained a favorable jury verdict for a hospital in a medical negligence action involving an infant in the Circuit Court of Mobile County.  Plaintiffs contended the infant was born with a significant brachial plexus injury caused by the negligence of the defendant physician and hospital in managing a shoulder dystocia emergency during delivery.  Defendants established that the physician and nurses timely and effectively performed the proper maneuvers to relieve the shoulder dystocia in a very short period of time and safely delivered the baby.  The jury deliberated for only twenty-five minutes before rendering a unanimous defense verdict in favor of the defendants.